Net Energy Metering (NEM)

Customer Self-Supply and Grid-Supply Programs

Distributed Energy Resource Programs

April 2017: A recent decision by the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission added space to the Customer Grid-Supply program by transferring capacity of private rooftop solar systems that were approved in the past several years but never completed.Read more >

Traditionally, generation of electricity takes place at power plants. This is referred to as centralized generation. Distributed energy resources refer to generators of electricity at many locations throughout the electric grid, such as PV systems mounted on rooftops in residential neighborhoods.

The great success of solar photovoltaic (PV) in Hawaii has dramatically altered the way our electric grid works. Designed for power to flow in only one direction from a centralized power plant, the grid now also receives power from thousands of small distributed energy resources systems.

Our Distributed Energy Resource Programs:

Customer Self-Supply (CSS) is intended only for solar PV installations that are designed to not export any electricity to the grid. Customers are not compensated for any export of energy.

Customer Grid-Supply (CGS) customers receive a PUC-approved credit for electricity sent to the grid and are billed at the retail rate for electricity they use from the grid.

The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (PUC) approved these rooftop PV programs to support the continued growth of rooftop PV and ensure safe, reliable service and fair treatment for all customers. The decision is the result of the PUC's effort to develop long-term technical and policy solutions that will support the continued growth of rooftop PV in Hawaii.

These programs provide customers with options to install both traditional rooftop PV systems and systems equipped with new emerging technologies, such as battery storage systems.

Customer Self-Supply (CSS)

CSS enables customers to install PV systems that do not export power to the utility grid. These systems can incorporate the use of energy storage devices, like batteries. All power produced by the customer's system will need to be used or stored to be used by the customer at a later time.

CSS systems are eligible for expedited review and approval of applications in areas with high levels of PV. CSS is only available for solar PV systems and not for other forms of renewable energy.

In addition, to help cover the fixed costs of providing service to PV customers who remain connected to the grid for continued service even when their PV systems are not producing energy, electric account holders for new residential PV systems will pay a minimum monthly bill of $25.

Customer Grid-Supply (CGS)

CGS enables residential and commercial customers to connect distributed energy systems (up to 100 kW total output capacity) to the electric grid. CGS provides eligible customers with credits on their electric bills for excess electricity sent to the grid or energy delivered by the Company to the customer-generator, whichever is less at a fixed rate approved by the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (see table below). These credits can help customers offset all or part of their electrical usage and lower their bills. These customers are billed the retail rate for all electricity they use that they receive from the utility.

Island

Credit

Oahu

15.07¢/kWh

Hawaii

15.14¢/kWh

Maui

17.16¢/kWh

Molokai

24.07¢/kWh

Lanai

27.88¢/kWh

As ordered by the PUC, at the end of your monthly billing cycle, any remaining credit in excess of your billed amount will be forfeited. Therefore, it is important that customers do not oversize their system.

In addition, to help cover the fixed costs of providing service to PV customers who remain connected to the grid for continued service even when their Distributed Energy Resource systems are not producing energy, electric account holders for new residential PV systems will pay a minimum monthly bill of $25.

Program Capacity Remaining

The PUC has set a capacity limit by service territory for the Customer Grid-Supply program. A recent decision by the PUC added space to the Customer Grid-Supply program by transferring capacity of private rooftop solar systems that were approved in the past several years but never completed. Read more >

Island

Original Capacity MWac

Added Capacity*

Pending & Executed**

Available Capacity

Hawaiian Electric

25.00

26.40

(41.76)

9.64

Maui Electric***

5.00

9.03

(13.87)

0.16

Hawaii Electric Light

5.00

4.751

(9.53)

0.22

As of 10/03/2017* Current capacity available as existing Net Energy Metering applications are cancelled or withdrawn** Accounts for all applications that have passed completeness review*** Includes Maui, Molokai and Lanai